Chapter 1: Journey to the new world

It was a beautiful day in London, the sky was blue, and seagulls flew overhead as a line of men prepared to board a ship for the new world. However, there was one man who hid in a nearby alleyway as he looked nervously at the ship.

"I can do this!" Quasimodo told himself over and over again in his head. He hadn't exactly told his friends about his plans back when he was in France. He had just told them he was planning on "Traveling."

He wanted to see the world. However, when he heard about the boat heading to the "New World" he had eagerly jumped at the chance. But his plan was risky and a bit dangerous for he planned to sneak onboard the ship!

If he got caught the consequences would be dire! He took a deep breath as he covered his face with his hood and stepped out of his hiding place. Meanwhile, men signed their names and said goodbye to their loved ones as they sang of their adventure to come.

"In sixteen hundred seven"

"We sail the open sea."

"For glory, God, and gold"

"And the Virginia Company"

"For the New World is like heaven."

"And we'll all be rich and free."

"Or so we have been told."

"By the Virginia Company"

"For glory, God and gold"

"And the Virginia Company"

When no one was looking Quasimodo silently crept on board and slipped down the stairs into an empty storage room below deck. He peered through a crate above his head as he watched someone walk by. He sighed relieved. As he listened to the crew above.

Meanwhile, two men stood on the deck talking to each other as they noticed an old friend walking towards the ship. "Hey, look. Is that Smith?" Asked the red-haired man next to him. The black-haired man smirked at his brother's question.

"That's him, all right. The old sea dog." Quasimodo however had been listening to their conversation. "Smith?" As in captain John Smith?! Quasimodo had heard so many incredible stories about the man. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Are you coming on this voyage too?" - Of course, he is, you half-wit. The man said smacking his brother on the back of the head. "You can't fight Indians without John Smith." This made Quasi extremely nervous.

The natives….How could I have forgotten! He hoped he didn't run into any in the new world. "That's right. I'm not about to let you boys have all the fun." He smiled this man sounded about his age. At least he wasn't entirely alone.

Meanwhile a black carriage

stopped in front of the docks. An elegantly dressed man stepped out and behind him followed a man dressed in yellow holding a pillow with a small dog on it. The pug seemed to wave as it was carried away the song continued.

"On the beaches of Virginny"

" There's diamonds like debris."

"There silver rivers flow and gold you pick right off a tree."

"With a nugget for my Winnie"

" And another one for me"

"And all the rest will go to the Virginia Company."

" To glory, God and gold."

"And the"

"Virginia"

"Companyyyy!"

Quasimodo stared out at the world as the boat slowly moved away from the docks. He sighed as he leaned against a barrel and closed his eyes. He should get some rest.

After all, he had a long journey ahead of him. However, a few weeks later the others aboard the ship began to notice food going missing and he was soon caught!

The boy stared at the floorboards waiting with dread for what they were going to do to him. He felt his hood tugged off as the men around him gasped in shock. "Throw him overboard," Ratcliff growled.

Quasi struggled as he was dragged to the edge of the ship. "Wait!" Quasi looked out of the corner of his eye. He saw John smith approaching the governor. "With all due respect sir, we can't just throw someone overboard!" He said sounding slightly shocked.

"Then what would you suggest we "Do" with this…."Stowaway? The boy looked up at the blonde-haired man. "Put him to work." He looks strong enough. We could use all the help we can get on this ship.

The governor looked as if he was contemplating it before he looked down at the boy in front of him. "What is your name "boy?" Quasimodo gulped nervously as he stared up at the man. "Q-Quasimodo, sir.

The man around him whispered around him in shock having heard the name before. "It's him, The Hunchback of Notre Dame!" I heard he has the strength of twelve men. Yeah, I heard that too. "Back to work men." We still have a long way to go. Ratcliff said as he walked away.

"Here let me help you up." He looked to see john smith holding his hand out to him. T-Thank you. He said as he stood. Y-You didn't have to help me. Don't mention it said, John. You seem like a nice kid. Quasi was about to say that they were almost the same age but shrugged it off as he helped around the ship.

However, that night a storm broke out. Men shouted in fear as the wind and rain whipped around them, the waves crashing over the side of the ship. "Haul on the brace! Come on, come on! - Do your best!"

Quasimodo happened to be one of the men on board the ship as he helped his fellow crewmates. He rushed forward to stop a cannon from rolling over the edge of the ship. "John! Get down here!" Quasimodo called out to John who was up in the crow's nest.

"The cannons are breaking loose!" Quasi shouted as John Smith landed on the deck. "Reef the topsails! - Yes, sir! - Steady on your course." He shouted to the other sailors. "It's alright Quasi We'll get her tied off."

He nodded as he and John worked tirelessly to get the canons tied off. "Say your prayers, men!" Someone shouted above them.

"Kid, watch out!" John shouted as a wave came crashing over the side.

But it was too late. Quasimodo let out a cry of fear as the wave dragged him over the side. "Help!" Quasi shouted. "Man overboard!" Someone shouted in the crow's nest. "Help!" The boy pleaded. "Stay your course! He's lost!" Ben said.

"Help!" The boy called out, but no one answered his call as the ship sailed further and further away.

"Pull the pins!" Said John as he tied a rope around his middle. Now! "Aye, sir!" Smith ran toward the water the rope still attached to him as he dove into the water to rescue his friend will be called after him.

Smith! Smith! "Are you crazy?" Quasi was slowly starting to sink into the water. Was he going to die!? Was this it?! He heard a familiar voice next to him as he started to sink. Hang on, Quasi! I've got you!

Quasi soon felt his feet hit the deck as he coughed and sputtered trying his best to expel the seawater from his lungs. Ah, my lucky lad! Said be patting the boy on the back. "Well, that was refreshing." John chuckled. "Well done, Smith." Said Bens brother Lon.

"Of course, you'd all do the same for me." Said Smith looking up at his friends. Yes, yes. Oh! Sure, sure. Of course, we would! Absolutely! Yeah, we would. They all said trying to look convincing.

"Trouble on deck?" The Men turned to see Governor Ratcliff standing in front of them. "Governor Ratcliffe! Quasimodo said nervously. He knew very well that the man was not too fond of him.

"Quasimodo fell overboard, sir," John said much to Quasi's relief. "Thank heavens he's been successfully retrieved." He said glancing down at him. "Well done, Smith." Thank you, sir. Ratcliffe turned to look at the rest of the crew as he gave them a quick speech.

"Don't lose heart, men. It won't be long before we reach the New World and remember what awaits us there...Freedom...Prosperity...the adventure of our lives." He cleared his throat as he continued.

"You're the finest crew England has to offer, and nothing, not wind nor rain, nor a thousand bloodthirsty savages shall stand in our way!" Carry on, men! The men cheered as they continued their work.

Ratcliffe's manservant Wiggins followed after him carrying an umbrella above his head. "A stirring oration, sir." I'm sure the men were most exhilaraaaated!

He shouted as the umbrella was almost tugged out of his hand. "Let us hope so. I'll need those witless peasants to dig up my gold, won't I?" He asked his pet pug the little dog gave a wicked grin as his answer.

"I can't wait to see the new world!" Said Quasimodo excited as he helped John tie the cannons down. I still can't believe it myself. But I am still a little worried. About what? John asked. A-About the…The natives. "He means the Indians!" Said Ben laughing.

"You just worry about that new life of yours Quasi." Leave the savages to me. Savages? Quasi said confused. The word sounded somewhat harsh. What if they were different then what he thought.

"You think they'll give us trouble?" Lon asked. "Not as much trouble as Smith will give them." Said ben taking a feather and a mop and pretending to be a native as the men began to sing.

"We'll kill ourselves an injun."

"Or maybe two or three"

"We're stalwart men and bold."

"of the Virginia Company"

Quasimodo followed John smith up to the crow's nest not wanting to listen to the song the men sang. The thought of them killing people made him sick. He was no fighter. He did not want to kill innocent people who did not mean them any harm.

"What do you suppose the New World will look like?" Quasi asked his friend as he leaned out to look at the horizon. Like all the others, I suppose. "I've seen hundreds of New Worlds, Quasi." "What could possibly be different about this one?"

I-I don't know. I just have this feeling that's all. Well in a few months we'll be there then you can see for yourself. Yeah, I-I guess. The men finished their song down below as Quasimodo stared out at the sea. "It's glory God, and gold And the Virginia Company!"

Little did Quasimodo realize that he was right! The new world would lead to the adventure of a lifetime as well as something he never would have seen coming. Love. True love! But it would be with someone that no one ever would have expected.